PORTRAIT OF A GREAT MAN

By: Manuel A. Viray

Author’s Background: Manuel Viray (1917-1995) was a Filipino writer and poet. His works include, Shawl from Kashmir and Other Stories, Morning Song.

Vocabulary:

Jarring - causing a physical shock, jolt, or vibration.

Impassive - not feeling or showing emotion.

Meticulous - showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
Guile - sly or cunning intelligence.
Protégée - a person guided by an older and more experienced or influential person.
Discomfit - make (someone) feel uneasy or embarrassed.
Incessantly - without interruption; constantly.
Impulsive - acting or done without forethought.

Characters:

Dr. Rufino T. Ventanilla – He was the focus at the beginning of the story, was also a former Deputy Commissioner, portrayed as a restless, impatient.

Serafin – Dr. Ventanilla’s chauffeur, typical driver of someone important in any story.

Zabala – Dr Ventanilla’s stenotypist, in charge of typing letters.

Dr. Adriano Perez y Tiron – Dr. Ventanilla’s successor as a Deputy Commissioner, he is against Dr. Ventanilla’s ideology; how he manages the office.

Marcos Montalbo II – A close friend of Dr. Perez, portrayed as a cunning character.

Del Mundo – One of the assistants on mechanization.

Villalva – One of the employees under Dr. Perez.

Setting:

Office - a room assigned to a specific person or a group of persons in industrial organization.

Summary

At the beginning of the story, Dr. Ventanilla was on his way to the office, driven by his chauffeur Serafin. Dr. Ventanilla was known for being strict and hard to convince. Though he may pay attention to small details in paperwork, he disregards the world around him. He does not appreciate small achievements nor does he empathize with the workers around him. With such characteristics in mind, it resulted into chaos of management in the office, and everyone working under Dr. Ventanilla had a hard time coping up with him. Dr. Ventanilla influenced the people he worked with; it is as if most of the people took his traits after years of working with him. Therefore, after Dr. Perez replaced Dr. Ventanilla, he inherited the same ideology and started treating his employees the same way. It ended up showing how Dr. Perez was no longer himself, as he became the person who he once disagreed with.

Symbolism:

An office represents the “HQ” or the base of the soldiers. Outside of the office is a battlefield that’s filled with competitiveness against other workplaces/companies.

Theme:

Office and People Management.

Lesson:

Leading is not for everyone, being a leader holds great responsibility, as you are the role model of the ones you are leading. Mistakes can’t be fully avoided but it can be prevented from happening again. It is your task as a leader to adapt to any situation and lead your members to success. Communication is one of the strongest weapon of a leader.